"Races to be Won"...Neil Corbett (Abbottsford News) Teelke was a little country girl growing up in Holland when she saw her first Thoroughbred up close. The farm’s draught horse died, and her father bought a track horse to replace it. It wasn’t cut out for farm work, but that did nothing to diminish her impression of the animal. “I could see the difference, even as a child – this horse was beautiful.” She was only four or five when the racehorse gave foal. Her dad told Teelke he had something to show her, and took her to the barn. “I’ll never forget that little face peeking out at me from around the mare. It was love at first sight.” Little Teelke had become Dixie Jacobson, a local woman best known for her inexhaustible work for charity. But she’s still that little girl who loves horse, and has become a successful breeder who runs horses at Hastings Racecourse. She and her husband Roy have built a life. They own Tip Top Capet !, a business they have operated in Abbotsford for some 45 years, and raise Thoroughbreds on 17 acres in Fort Langley. Dixie is the president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (B.C. Division), and has won her share. Her first horse, Supernaturel, won nine stakes races in the 1980’s. “I went to the track and they would say, “Just make the check out to Dixie Jacobson.’ Every breeder should get a Supernatruel.” She also had a B/.C. Derby winner in Newdigs, and other successes along the way. Dixie takes a stable hand’s approach to charity work. She is done raising a family of a boy and three girls; taught them stadium jumping and how to be good citizens, and sent them all on their way. Now she fills her time working wit the Crystal Gala and other causes. The Crystal Gala is a black tie event which raise money for breast cancer research. It has become one of the social highlights of the year in Abbotsford, and the November 1 event has been sold out since January. Last year it raised approximately $140,000. “I work with an amazing group of women,” said Dixie. Some of the Crystal Gala organizers are young women with families and some have grandchildren – Dixie has nine. “But what we have in common is the passion to raise funds, so that hopefully our little ones won’t have to worry about, ‘You have a lump.’ “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun.” She also volunteers her farm for the David Foster Foundation’s annual gathering. The foundation pays the non-medical expenses for families struggling to cope as a child gets an organ transplant. Foster is the music producer who wrote the score for St. Elmo’s Fire and who works with the likes of Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand and Dolly Parton. He landed his jet in Abbotsford and visited her farm and some of the children and families he has helped. “all the kids love the farm – the horses, chickens, cats and dogs; it’s just a fun day out,” said Dixie. She has hosted the Foster foundation party for the past five years, and this year she’ll put on a Halloween party, wit costumes and pumpkin carving. Dixie is a great one to combine her passions. She is part of the Pink Ribbon Stable, which bought the California Thoroughbred Bagetts Star four years ago with five other women. When the horse wins, the Crystal Gala earns $1,000.00; placing is woth $500.00 and to show is $250.00. Each of the women invested $5,000.00, and they haven’t put in another cent because Bagetts Star earns its keep. She’s proud of the Pink Ribbon Stable. “That’s another amazing group of women.” On September 20 she will be one of the hosts as Hastings Racecourse holds the Pink Ribbons and Horseshoes event, which will be another VIP fundraiser for the Crystal Gala Foundation. For the $100.ticket, those attending will be treated to a patio party and buffet, and an afternoon of horse racing in the $125,000 B.C. Oaks Stakes race. They will cheer on the horse, but the real winners will be cancer patients. For Dixie Jacobson, that’s a perfect arrangement.
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